Bobbie-Jean’s greyhound hobby now has a full-time attraction

By Pat McLeod

Four years ago Bobbie-Jean Chaffey decided to take out a handler’s licence as a hobby at race meetings.

Today she is one of North Queensland’s leading trainers and is ‘seriously’ looking at taking up the collar and lead full-time next year.

“To be honest, I can’t picture my life without greyhounds,” the 42-year-old says.

“I just love it. The dogs are just great. They make it. But, also there is a real community feel to greyhound racing here.

“You never feel alone. Yes, greyhound racing is a competition, but you never feel like an outsider. So many people are willing to help if you have an issue.”

Bobbie-Jean, or ‘BJ’ as she is known to her friends, took out a trainer’s licence in April last year.

So far in 2023 her win tally is 39 and she sits second on the Townsville trainers’ premiership behind runaway leader Brad Belford (100 winners).

She is amazed not only at her success, but also how much she loves the sport.

“It's an exciting time," Bobbie-Jean said.

"And, it's rewarding when you see your dog's improving and reaching their potential.

"We have a good team at the moment. We have 32 race dogs in work and some pups coming through.”

Bobbie-Jean works full-time and says the combination of that and training greyhounds means life is ‘very busy’.

Her 18-year-old son Jake, who has a handler’s licence, also shoulders a large slice of the workload.

“Jake really enjoys it and is a great help," she said. 

Jake will undertake the 16-hour round-trip to Rockhampton this week for the Tuesday meeting there.

The Rockhampton club, who normally race on Wednesdays, have moved to the Tuesday timeslot with Townsville shut down for two weeks for the local show.

“We have to keep racing,” Bobbie-Jean said. 

“If you don’t race you don’t get an income and with a large kennel you need that regular income.

“It is an eight-hour trip from Townsville to Rockhampton and we have seven dogs in on Tuesday.

“There are other positives to the trip. There is no doubt the dogs like a change and when we have done this before the dogs have come back and their racing has improved.

“It is only twice a year (that the Townsville tracks closes). At Christmas and for the show.”

Bobbie-Jean says a switch to full-time training was an attractive proposition.

“The prize money and other incentives at the moment are the reason I am looking at doing it full-time,” she said.

“Even I can’t believe that I am in this position. It was supposed to be just a hobby.”